Police Report

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Message from the Chief Mission Statement Vision Statement Organizational Chart Executive Command Staff

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Patrol Investigations Directed Patrol Unit Traf ic Unit School Resource Of icers Community Relations Unit

10 11 13 14 20 21

Volunteers Citizen Police Academy Junior Police Academy Service Of icers Support Services

25 27 28 29 30

Professional Training Community Outreach Special Olympics Reporting Service Calls Enforcement Statistics 2Â Service Calls & Crime Statistics

32 35 37 39 40 41


MESSAGE CHIEF

FROM THE

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am once again honored to present the Buffalo Grove Police Department’s Annual Report. This report gives us a unique opportunity to showcase the activities and accomplishments of the men and women of this great agency, as well as examining the challenges that the future may bring us.

As in years past, 2018 brought us several challenges including replacing several outstanding employees. We celebrated the retirement of of icers who had served our community for decades and we appreciate and honor their service. One of the key areas that we concentrated our efforts on in 2018 was developing future leaders. We promoted an of icer to sergeant and a sergeant to lieutenant. With the promotions we’ve had these last several years, the Department worked on leadership training for all supervisors. We are fortunate that we have many options available to our department, including some unique and prestigious avenues that may not be available to most agencies. Some of our command personnel attended the 10 week School of Police Staff and Command at Northwestern, the Northwestern Executive Management Program, and the FBI National Academy in Quantico Virginia. This report also details a number of examples of the police department’s engagement with our residents, including National Night Out, Buffalo Grove Days, our Citizen Police Academy, and numerous Special Olympics events. In 2018 the police department raised more funds than any other year since records have been kept by Special Olympics Illinois. Due to the efforts and hard work by our employees, as well as many donations from local businesses, we were able to raise over $55,000. As always, the police department cannot accomplish what we do without our partnerships and the strong support of the Village’s management team and our elected of icials. I would like to extend my thanks to them as well as to all of our sworn staff, civilian staff and our volunteers. I am proud and honored to work with such a great team. Sincerely, Steven R. Casstevens Chief of Police

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MISSION STATEMENT Â

As an accredited and innovative leader in law enforcement, it is the mission of the Buffalo Grove Police Department to provide the highest quality police services by working with our community and sharing our mutual responsibilities for safety, service, and problem resolution. These aims are achieved through a continuous program of employee development and by maintaining a high standard of commitment, integrity and dedication to our profession, colleagues and all those we serve.


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VISION STATEMENT

As caring and innovative professionals, the men and women of the Buffalo Grove Police Department will strive to maintain a safe environment through a service oriented organization capable of addressing the most complex challenges that confront us. We are committed to being an industry leader in terms of both the service that we provide to the public and the environment in which we work. 5Â


2018 ORGANIZATIONAL CHART Chief of Police Steven R. Casstevens Administra on Division Deputy Chief Michael Szos

Administra ve Assistant Melessa Horbus

Staff Support Commander James Newton

Admin Services Lieutenant Michael Rodriguez

Staff Support Sergeant Vince Positano

Community Rela ons Unit

Traffic Unit Traffic Sergeant Michelle Kondrat Traffic Unit Officers—3 Staci Kupsak Michael Carlson Shannon McMillon Crossing Guards—5

Records Unit Records Supervisor Linda Paul 2 FT/1 PT Clerk Diana French Charmaine Klein Julia Woodside

Opera ons Division Deputy Chief Sco Eisenmenger

Day Shi (Red) Lt. Tom Nugent Sgt. Brian Spolar Sgt. Anthony Goldstein 9 Officers (Min. Staffing—4/5/6) CSO—1 Desk Officers 1 FT/.5 PT

Crime Preven on Officer Amy Cholewa Public Engagement Liaison Meghan Hansen Business Liaison Officer Ma hew Mills Social Worker Bri any Wilson Police Volunteers—8

Evening Shi (White) Lt. Tim Gretz Sgt. Tom Da lo Sgt. Robert Broussard 10 Officers (Min. Staffing—5/6) CSO—1 Desk Officers .5 FT/1 PT

School Resource Officers—3 Cliff Paul Ashley Krozel Falon‐Jocquet Adams

Night Shi (Blue) Lt. Tara Anderson Sgt. Paul Jamil Sgt. Dean Schulz 9 Officers (Min. Staffing—4/5) Desk Officers 1 FT/.5 PT

Tech Services Administrator Effie Harris Evidence/Adjudica on Beth Mar n

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Inves ga ons Commander Thomas Reed

Inves gators—4 Malcolm Baker Brian Hansen Doug Shipman Tony Mon el Task Force Officers –2 Drug Enforcement Agency Homeland Security Directed Patrol Unit—3 Anthony Turano Ross Valstyn K‐9 Officer Danielle Baron & K‐9 Hogyn

Authorized Staffing Sworn Officers: 63 Full Time Civilians: 12 Part Time Civilians: 3 Crossing Guards: 5 Total Employees: 83


EXECUTIVE COMMAND STAFF

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ith more than nine decades of law enforcement experience among them, the management team at the Buffalo Grove Police Department continues to bring about positive change and progress, navigating the sometimes challenging environment of policing our community.

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ver ive years ago, Chief Casstevens brought his established reputation to the Village of Buffalo Grove, along with an abundance of opportunities. Chief Casstevens has served in law enforcement for 42 years, beginning his career in the Military Police with the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division. He is a graduate of Northwestern University Center for Public Safety’s School of Police Staff & Command and the 216th Session of the FBI National Academy. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Judson University and has been honored with the J. Stannard Baker Award for Outstanding Achievements in Highway Safety, presented by the National Highway Traf ic Safety Administration. In addition to being the past President of Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, Chief Casstevens serves as Vice President of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. 7


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eputy Chief Michael Szos is a thirty year veteran of the Buffalo Grove Police Department, who currently serves as the Deputy Chief of Administration. He began his law enforcement career with Buffalo Grove in 1988 as a civilian employee and was sworn in as a police of icer in 1994. During his tenure, he has served as a Field Training Of icer, Firearms Instructor and in various supervisory positions in each division of the agency. In addition, Deputy Chief Szos has been the department’s CALEA Accreditation Manager for the past ten (10) years. Deputy Chief Szos has a Bachelor’s of Science Degree from Northeastern University and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from DePaul University. He is a graduate of Northwestern University Police Staff and Command, the Executive Management Program, and the FBI National Academy.

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eputy Chief Scott

Eisenmenger is a twenty‐four year veteran of the Buffalo Grove Police Department, who currently serves as the Deputy Chief of Operations. Deputy Chief Eisenmenger’s prior experience at the department includes crash investigator, school resource of icer, criminal investigator, Training and Operations Sergeant, and Crisis Team Coordinator. He has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, and is a graduate of Northwestern’s Executive Management Program, is a Certi ied Eligible Chief of Police through the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, and is a member of the Police Administration Committee with the International Association of Chief’s of Police. Deputy Chief Eisenmenger graduated from the 271st session of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. GO SOX! 8


PATROL P

atrol of icers are the backbone of the Buffalo Grove Police Department. It is the largest and most visible part of the organization and consists of the Village’s irst responders in all law enforcement aspects. From calls for service to community functions, these men and women serve with professionalism, courage, pride, and commitment. The 34 sworn of icers and 7 civilians who make up the Patrol Division are divided into three shifts—Red, White, and Blue. Each shift is led by a Shift Lieutenant and two Sergeants.

Lt. Nugent

Lt. Gretz

Lt. Anderson

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Of icer Lowenberg is shown here changing a citizen’s lat tire on Lake Cook Road.


PATROL T

he of icers assigned to patrol are the primary responders to calls for service which include criminal behavior, traf ic issues, parking, crashes, domestic animal issues, medical emergencies, and civil matters. Patrol of icers also spend time educating the public about traf ic laws, conducting preliminary investigations, monitoring problem areas, performing vacation house checks, and responding to burglar alarms.

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CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS

INVESTIGATIONS T

he mission of the Investigations Section is to identify, target, arrest, and successfully prosecute individuals involved in criminal activity within Buffalo Grove. The Investigations Section is tasked with investigating crimes which did not incur a permanent resolution during the course of a patrol of icer’s initial response to an incident. While patrol is responsible for responding to immediate situations, investigators are responsible for responding to those incidents when extensive and immediate investigation is necessary, such as what is necessary to properly investigate a violent crime against a person.

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nvestigators also conduct follow‐ups relating to other criminal incidents. Their involvement in a case will depend upon solvability factors, meaning what information is available for investigators to follow‐up on further in an effort to resolve the case. The Investigations Section strives to provide excellence in the area of criminal investigation and to respond to the needs of the community. Our investigators are ready to respond at any time, day or night, to the needs of crime victims or to the scene of criminal activity. The Investigations Section has at least one investigator designated as being “on call” at all times, though all investigators can be called in to work major crime scenes as needed.

A search warrant resulted in the discover y of 720 grams of cannabis and drug paraphernalia

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INVESTIGATIONS T

he Investigations Section is comprised of four investigators, two directed patrol of icers, and one canine of icer who are supervised by a commander. In addition, the Investigations Section has liaison of icers assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE‐HIS). These assignments are very bene icial for the department due to the enhanced relationships built with these federal agencies. One investigator is assigned as the Internet Crimes Against Children Investigator.

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he Internet Crimes Against Children Investigator is responsible for investigating crimes such as child enticement, parental kidnapping, missing/runaway children, and internet crimes related to children such as child pornography and internet luring.

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ll of the investigators are trained in a variety of disciplines, and therefore, are capable of performing a wide variety of specialized tasks. This provides greater lexibility in their work assignments as the needs arise.

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DIRECTED PATROL UNIT

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he Directed Patrol Unit (DPU) consists of two highly trained of icers assigned to identifying emerging crime trends or problem areas within the village and then inding solutions to those issues. These of icers are tasked with conducting targeted patrol requests, covert surveillance, executing search warrants, and apprehension of offenders who violate state and local laws. Addressing citizen concerns and utilizing nontraditional patrol techniques results in an improved quality of life for our residents. When not being used for special intervention requests, the philosophy of the Directed Patrol Unit is that crime can be deterred from occurring through highly proactive enforcement and through directed enforcement following creative problem oriented policing strategies. In addition, the unit focuses strongly on the sales and distribution of narcotics.

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he Department’s Canine (K‐9) Unit is assigned to the Investigations Section and works closely with the Directed Patrol Unit. The mission of the K‐9 Unit is to assist of icers through the use of a canine’s unique and advanced abilities. One of the greatest values of police K‐9’s is their presence on the street. A K‐9 can have a tremendous psychological effect and as a result, are a tremendous deterrent to criminal activity. The purpose of the K‐9 is not to replace the police of icer, but to work together with the K‐9 handler. The K‐9's remarkable sense of smell and hearing are the primary reasons police departments utilize them. These senses assist in tracking and apprehending felony suspects, locating missing persons, conducting building searches, searching for items a suspect may discard while leeing from a crime and the detection of illegal narcotics. Our K‐9 Unit consists of Of icer Baron and K‐9 Hogyn. This team primarily works the evening shift, but remains available for call‐out seven days a week; working in partnership with other K‐9 teams throughout Cook and Lake County. Of icer Baron and K‐9 Hogyn also participate in community events including National Night Out, Law Enforcement Expo, Buffalo Grove Days, block parties and other events where residents have an opportunity to meet Hoygn. Of icer Baron & K‐9 Hogyn are certi ied through the North American Police Working Dog Association (NAPWDA) and re‐certify annually to ensure they maintain the highest level of pro iciency. 13


TRAFFIC TRAFFIC UNIT UNIT

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he Traf ic Unit is part of the Administration Division of the police department and is responsible for managing traf ic concerns and educating staff and the public about new or changing traf ic laws. The main goal of the Traf ic Unit is the reduction of injury and property damage crashes through education and enforcement. nforcement and education continue to be considered law enforcement best practices in changing the driving behavior of the public. Much research has been done in the area of how law enforcement can change driving behavior and reduce the number and severity of collisions. A multi‐faceted approach of enforcement and education are the foundation to every law enforcement program aimed at such goals.

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he team is led by Sgt. Kondrat and incorporates a Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Of icer and two traf ic specialists. Sgt. Kondrat and the rest of her Traf ic Unit work with the Illinois Department of Transportation, Cook and Lake Counties Divisions of Transportation. The Traf ic Unit noti ies the public of upcoming construction to help re‐direct traf ic around congested areas. The smooth low of traf ic reduces frustration and anxiety, which lessens the likelihood of collisions.

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TRAFFIC UNIT

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nother important component of the unit is educating the drivers of tomorrow on roadway safety. During 2018, traf ic safety specialists visited Buffalo Grove High School and conducted presentations to the Driver’s Education classes. A “No Texting While Driving” campaign was held to encourage students to think about the dangers of distracted driving. Students were asked to create a safety message to remind drivers not to text and drive. The winning message was then used by the Buffalo Grove Police Department on message boards and at public events throughout the year. Students also had the opportunity to utilize a distracted driving simulator to demonstrate how important it is to always keep your eyes on the road. here is one full‐time Truck Enforcement Of icer assigned to the Traf ic Unit. The primary duties of the Truck Enforcement Of icer are the enforcement of truck weight and size violations, and monitoring safety and driver license classi ication violations. The of icer’s duties also include the issuance of permits for overweight and oversized vehicles using Village roadways. The permits can be purchased online through Oxcart, found on the Village’s website, www.vbg.org.

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TRAFFIC UNIT

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n the last week of September, the Buffalo Grove Police Department once again took part in Operation Lifesaver. This occurs every year during the Illinois Rail Safety Week. The goal of Operation Lifesaver is to end collisions involving trains and vehicles at highway�rail grade crossings. BGPD utilizes enforcement measures and an education campaign with Metra Rail and Canadian National Railroad Police to emphasize caution near train tracks, stations and crossings. Of icers were present at both the Buffalo Grove and Prairie View locations handing out safety brochures and reminding pedestrians to only cross at designated areas, and watch for trains coming in both directions.

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he Buffalo Grove Traf ic Unit hosted their annual bike rodeo during the late spring for children ages 5 through 12 years. The event promoted bicycle safety and provided the police department the opportunity to work with children to enhance their bike safety skills. The children were provided with a review of the rules of the road and the importance of helmet use. Each participant received a helmet itting and a bicycle safety inspection. The children proceeded through an obstacle course and maneuvered around objects, stopping quickly, and balancing while riding slowly. Everyone received a participation ribbon while the top three winners in each age division received trophies. In addition, there was one grand prize winner who received a new bike! 16Â


TRAFFIC UNIT

CROSSING GUARD TRAINING

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he Traf ic Unit also trains all of the crossing guards employed with the Village of Buffalo Grove. The training includes a refresher course on proper crossing techniques and any changes in policy or school crossing locations. Part of the training includes a video produced by the American Automobile Association (AAA), which demonstrates the ideal procedure for crossing students at school crossings. At the conclusion of the training course, the crossing guards are given a crossing guard manual which contains policies, school schedules, contact lists, and a training sheet about the role of the crossing guard. Each crossing guard passes a written test each year. During the course of the school year, members of the Traf ic Unit spend time at each school crossing to monitor the performance of the guards, ensure traf ic lows well and evaluate the road engineering. The number of vehicles and students passing through each crossing is also documented for analysis on an annual basis.

Julie Bigos

Benno Youkhanna

TheresaYoukhanna

Denny Stone

Joseph Volerman

Nancy Sophian

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TRAFFIC UNIT

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he Buffalo Grove Police Department also conducts car seat checks for our residents. There are currently four certi ied Child Passenger Safety Technicians who can meet with residents to help provide personalized instruction on how to properly use their child’s car seat. Appointments can be set up online or made by calling the front desk and car seat checks typically occur twice a month.

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n April, the Traf ic Unit distributed a coloring page geared towards bicycle safety to Buffalo Grove’s area school children (K‐3). The students have the opportunity to submit their colored picture into a contest, where a winner is chosen in each grade and presented with a $25 gift card. This year’s three winners were presented with their prizes at a Village Board Meeting, and were provided an opportunity to show off their winning pictures . tatistical data is important for recognizing trends and planning education campaigns. The Traf ic Unit conducted surveys to gather information about the number of seat belt and cellphone violations as a ratio to the number of motorists. The information gained from these studies was compiled in a report and used in focusing education and enforcement efforts.

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TRAFFIC UNIT

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he Illinois Traf ic Safety Challenge (ITSC) is a program coordinated by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police with support from the National Highway Traf ic Safety Administration and funded by grants and private entities. The Challenge is a competition among law enforcement agencies to address traf ic issues in their communities. The Police Department submitted our annual application which documented our efforts in three main areas, including occupant restraint, speeding enforcement and impaired driving. The submission contained information on policies, training, public education, of icer/citizen recognition, enforcement activities and overall strategy effectiveness. Documentation of program development and implementation is required, with considerable scrutiny to policies which relate to safety belt use and enforcement guidelines for safety belt, child passenger safety restraints, speed, and impaired driving. There are also a number of categories and special awards available to agencies our size. In 2018, our department was awarded an overall Second Place in the Championship Class. Our department also won a new LIDAR speed enforcement tool for our efforts. 19Â


SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS

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he School Resource Of icers (SROs) of the Buffalo Grove Police Department are specially trained, valuable members of both the police department and the school community. All three have diverse roles, but their responsibilities all include school safety, mentoring, teaching, creating partnerships, and building relationships. In support of our community policing efforts, SROs focus their efforts in engaging with students, parents, administrators, teachers, and staff to ensure positive educational and safety outcomes. he School Resource Of icers adopt a “triad” approach for law enforcement programs in the schools. They serve as that of a teacher, informal counselor, and law enforcement of icer. The High School Liaison Of icer at Buffalo Grove High School is responsible for providing daily school security, on‐site con lict resolution, and works closely with the school’s deans, counselors, and principal in helping to build positive relationships with the students. n districts 96 and 102, of icers continue to teach students life skills with a focus on personal safety, resisting peer pressure, safe internet use, bullying and other safety programs. These of icers also serve as the “beat” of icers and handle many or most of the calls for service there. In addition, these SROs are specially trained in the areas of Active Shooter Response and have helped to instruct, train, and practice with nearly all district faculty members on how to respond to these SROs Martin and Krozel and Officer Mills are shown here types of horri ic events. teaching District 102 Active

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Shooter Response

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COMMUNITY RELATIONS UNIT

COMMUNITY RELATIONS UNIT

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he Community Relations Unit (CRU) is comprised of our Crime Prevention Officer, two Police Community Officers for Research & Engagement (P‐CORE), and the Police Social Worker. The unit is assigned to the Administration Division of the police department.

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hese individual assignments make up the unit whose goal is to make the Buffalo Grove Police Department more readily accessible to its residents and community members. The unit is proactive in their approach for ways to become more interactive with the public, in an effort to further combat crime and create a strong sense Community Rela ons Unit Meghan Hansen, Bri any Wilson, Ma Mills, Amy Cholewa of community. This group is easily the most visible team we have. They interact with the community in over 100 events per year. This group also presents crime prevention topics to a variety of age groups, covering a vast array of issues such as: scams, online safety, mobile phone safety, senior safety and more.

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goal of the unit is to participate in as many community events as possible. Members of the CRU can often be found at events such as Buffalo Grove Days, the Farmer’s Market, BG Park District’s National Night Out, and other various happenings throughout the village. The CRU is always looking for more ways to be involved and prides themselves on coordinating events with the community. 21


COMMUNITY RELATIONS UNIT

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he Buffalo Grove Police Department is very proud of its Community Relations Unit. This unit participates in, on average, two programs a week. These programs include the Random Act of Kindness Day, Shop with a Cop, Bowl with a Cop, Farmer’s Market, Senior Citizens Expo, Coffee with a Cop and more. The unit handles department tours, assists the Traf ic Unit with car seat checks, assists the School Resource Of icers with Active Shooter Response Drills and is in charge of both the Citizens and Junior Police Academy. They also handle a large load of the Buffalo Grove Police Department’s philanthropic efforts such as our most notable effort, the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Illinois.

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COMMUNITY RELATIONS UNIT

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nother function of the CRU is to provide tours of the police department to various groups and organizations. The tours are offered during the daytime and evening hours by appointment only.

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embers of the CRU, patrol of icers, K9 of icer and police volunteers also attend community relations events outside of the Village limits of Buffalo Grove. They attended the Vernon Hills Police Expo inside of Hawthorn Mall, the National Night Out event in Barrington, and several community events in Long Grove.

Of icers introduced themselves to mall patrons, and handed out stickers and other merchandise to children who visited. K9 Of icer Baron and K9 Hogyn also did a presentation demonstrating the trust and loyalty between the K9 and its handler.

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COMMUNITY RELATIONS UNIT

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he CRU works closely to ensure residents are kept “in the know” with information pertaining to the police department. Through presentations, social media outlets, and more traditional communication methods, the CRU aimed to share important messages with community members. Just as importantly, relationships were maintained to encourage two way communication; the department wants to hear what the residents of Buffalo Grove need. Officers assigned to this unit are trained to assist in identifying issues and offering positive and realistic solutions.

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he Police Social Worker is a crucial member of the department, as the position is responsible for ensuring crime victims know their rights, and how to go about protecting them. The social worker has the capability to offer short term counseling, referrals, mental health assistance, substance abuse resources, and more. The CRU and the department’s social worker assist each other with cases which may require law enforcement as well as social intervention.

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ogether, the CRU interacts with the Buffalo Grove community in a positive way, on a more regular basis. History has shown that community policing plays a large part in making communities safer, and by putting a face to an entity, the CRU hopes to continuously improve law enforcement and community relations in a proactive manner. 24


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he Buffalo Grove Police Volunteer Program has become an integral part of the Police Department. The volunteers served more than 300 hours during the year but the bene its these volunteers provide to the Police Department and Buffalo Grove community are immeasurable.

Pam Koller

Jeff Reisen

Eric Schwartz

Sam Shulman

Judy Yublosky

Ed Case

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Peter Guidice

Kay Krupella


POLICE VOLUNTEERS

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olunteers assist the Police Department with activities such as clerical work, court runs, parking enforcement and special events. The volunteers also meet monthly for training and to share information. In addition to their routine assignments, the volunteers participated in events such as the Citizens Police Academy, Junior Police Academy, National Night Out, LE Expo, Shop with a Cop, Farmer’s Market, BGFD Open House, Peer Jury, Buffalo Grove Days and so much more!

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CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY

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n 2018 we hosted our 30th session of the Buffalo Grove Citizen Police Academy class. There were 17 participants in this year’s class. The participants learned many of the responsibilities of modern policing, including: forensics, traf ic safety & enforcement, building searches and arrest procedures. The class is offered once a year and provides insight into the complexity of public service in a changing society.

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articipants were able to learn the tactics of conducting building searches, traf ic stops, and DUI arrest procedures in a “hands on” environment. They processed mock crime scenes for evidence, shot irearms with our range instructors, and even learned pressure point self defense techniques from our defensive tactics instructors.

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JUNIOR POLICE ACADEMY

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his year we had 18 teens participate in our Junior Police Academy. In this three week summer program, the students are given an overview of forensics, traf ic enforcement, canine capabilities and participate in role play scenarios to get a feel for police work.

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SERVICE OFFICERS

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he Police Department front desk is staffed by civilians who handle a multitude of responsibilities, such as handling all incoming telephone calls, non‐emergency radio communications, and several types of walk‐in requests.

Desk Of icer Genender

Desk Of icer Pernai

Desk Of icer Woodside

Desk Of icer Kohl

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uffalo Grove Police Department employs two Community Service Of icers (CSO). These are civilians who provide support to of icers working in patrol. They handle non‐emergency calls for service, minor traf ic crashes, assist with traf ic control, parking enforcement, and animal complaints. The CSO’s are crucial members of the team, providing behind the scene support and allowing the patrol of icers to be available to respond quickly to emergency related calls.

CSO Lance Sher

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Desk Of icer Harris

CSO Gloria Sheridan


SUPPORT SERVICES

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he Records Unit of the Buffalo Grove Police Department is staffed with a full time supervisor and three full time clerks under the Administration Division of the Department. This part of the organization serves an important function in providing support to the of icers acts as the “memory” of the Buffalo Grove Police Department and provides support to the of icers. In 2018, the Records Unit processed over 6,100 traf ic citations, over 5,600 ordinance citations, nearly 3,300 incident reports, and 376 FOIA requests that comprised of thousands of pages.

Julia Woodside Clerk

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Victoria Szlag Clerk

Linda Paul Records Supervisor

Diana French Clerk

Charmaine Kline Clerk

e have specially trained forensic technicians who document and collect physical evidence. However, it is the responsibility of the evidence custodian to catalogue, store and transfer evidence to the laboratory for testing or to court. All physical evidence collected is recorded into an evidence software application and assigned a bar code. The numbered item is stored in a temperature controlled secure environment, with limited access. The bar code system makes retrieval and tracking the chain of custody straightforward. In 2018, 1165 items of Beth Martin Evidence evidence were taken in and 1011 articles were destroyed pursuant to court Custodian orders. Many items are collected within the Village, which are not related to known crimes, and are categorized as found property or simply turned in by the owner for destruction (e.g. firearm ammunition). We make every attempt to find the owner of found property turned into the police department, but in some cases the property has been abandoned or its true owner can not be located. All unclaimed property of value is donated to an approved local charity. In 2018, we donated 34 bicycles to a charitable organization. 30


SUPPORT SERVICES

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dministrative Adjudication is an alternative to circuit court. It is a non‐judicial proceeding conducted to adjudicate Village ordinance violations which do not carry penalties involving incarceration. Typically, penalties and fines associated with these offenses are substantially less than their criminal statute counterparts, and the civil proceedings are not reflected in a standard criminal background. The types of violations written under this include non‐moving traffic, parking, and other Village ordinance violations. In lieu of an administrative adjudication appearance, ordinance violations can be satisfied by the violator demonstrating compliance and paying the required fine listed on the citation.

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s our reliance on technology grows, the role of the Technical Services Administrator of the Buffalo Grove Police Department has become an increasingly vital function. The TSA provides both daily technical support to our of icers and investigators in the ield as well as being

responsible for long term projects within the agency. The TSA, a certi ied project manager, is in charge of the department’s transition to electronic ticketing, transitioning to a new Computer Aided Dispatching system, responsible for the leet management, and continues to provide support with crime analysis. 31


PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

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he Buffalo Grove Police Department provides continuous year‐round training for its law enforcement personnel. This training is conducted by certified, in‐house instructors. These training blocks are conducted based upon current events and mandatory qualifications.

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n 2018, department personnel participated in rapid deployment training, handcuffing, defensive tactics, electronic control weapon deployment, and an outdoor shoot to better understand the tactics and movements in and out of a patrol vehicle during a shooting event. Officers regularly train with their firearms at least once every quarter, and are refreshed on legal updates at least once per month. 32


PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

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raining is a high priority throughout the year and careful budgeting and planning allows staff opportunities to develop into leaders with the mentorship philosophy of management. In 2018, officers attended over 550 training classes for a total of over 2,500 training hours. Much of the training was conducted through the North East Multi‐Regional Training unit (NEMRT) which is a mobile training unit from the Illinois ASSIST Program. This training program holds classes at various police departments and government locations to provide easier access for officers to attend these training sessions.

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few members of the Command Staff attended the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) annual conference. The conference is attended by law enforcement leaders from all over the world and the training sessions are the best in the industry. Chief Steven Casstevens, First Vice President of the IACP, spoke at many events and expert panels throughout the four‐day conference. Command Staff and several supervisors also attended the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police conference, the Illinois version of this conference. 33


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his year two sergeants attended the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety School of Police Staff and Command (SPSC). The 10‐week long course combines academic principles with practical applications to prepare managers in budgets, scheduling staff, traf ic management, ethics, personnel issues and policy development. Lieutenant Tom Nugent, an SPSC graduate himself, attended the three week Executive Management Program which provides intensive instruction for the policy making executive and combines management principles with the study of emerging law enforcement issues. he Buffalo Grove Police Department also had two of its Command Staff members attend the prestigious FBI National Academy in 2018. The FBI National Academy is a professional course of study for US and international law enforcement managers. This 10‐week program, held in Quantico Virginia, provides coursework in intelligence theory, terrorism, management science, law, behavioral science, law enforcement communication and forensic science. It serves to improve the administration of justice in police departments and agencies at home and abroad and to raise law enforcement standards, knowledge, and cooperation worldwide.

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COMMUNITY OUTREACH his past year marked the irst year that the Farmers’ Market hosted several entities at their inaugural “First Responder’s Day”. Members from the police department championed the event, and were joined by the BG Fire Department, and BG Public Works. The departments showcased their equipment, handed out giveaways and met with residents to explain their roles in helping Buffalo Grove remain a top notch community.

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COMMUNITY OUTREACH he Buffalo Grove Police Department, through a generous sponsorship by the Men’s Group of Congregation Beth Judea of Long Grove held another Shop with a Cop event in December. This event involves the allows the department to identify community children who may be in need of some holiday cheer and provide them a chance to purchase holiday gifts for their families and loved ones. Of icers volunteer for the event and are paired up with a child or two and assist them in selecting gifts. The

Shop with a Cop day is hosted by Target, who also provides a donation. Once the group inishes their shopping, they return to the police department for a wrapping and pizza party! 36Â


COMMUNITY OUTREACH he Buffalo Grove Police Department prides itself on being a true member of the community, not just an entity which polices it. The “Torch Run” Law Enforcement initiative through Special Olympics Illinois (SOILL) is one that the BGPD holds near to its heart. This was proven in 2018, as the department raised more than $55,000 for SOILL. This was achieved through volunteerism, hard work and relentless efforts during of icers and police department members off time. “Cop on a Rooftop”, “Butterburgers and Badges”, as well as a trivia night, were some of the larger collection events, but donations are sought year‐round. In addition, the department recognizes the individual needs of the community as well. In an effort to keep kids engaged with the department during summer break, of icers host a “Bowl with a Cop” event in conjunction with Bowlero Buffalo Grove. Members from the department assisted the Rotary Club in distributing food boxes during the holidays. They also participated in the “Shop with a Cop” program, which pairs of icers with children from the community who can use a boost during the holiday season. 37


COMMUNITY OUTREACH he Buffalo Grove Police Department constantly seeks to partner with the community in an effort to serve more effectively and it is part of our philosophy to support organizations and businesses with needs beyond the norm. We strive to make our residents feel safe and comfortable in their home or work environment.

hese relationships have had a tremendously positive effect on the community and their appreciation was shown through department visits by these community groups. Of icers received special notes of thanks, Valentine’s Day packages from Girl Scout Troops, pizza parties hosted by local businesses and so many other snacks and goodies from visiting groups.

38


REPORTING SERVICE CALLS

T

he Buffalo Grove Police Department strives to protect the property and safety of the citizens who reside, travel through and/or work in the Village of Buffalo Grove. The Department prioritizes prompt service and the restoration of dignity for those who have been victims of crimes. The Buffalo Grove Police Department utilizes both an online citizen police reporting system as well as the traditional 911 system through the Northwest Central Dispatch system. The web based process allows a resident to complete an online form to report a variety of non‐ emergency incidents or service requests such as vacation house watches. Residents can also utilize an online portal for other services such as a car seat check or an overnight parking request. Once submitted, these matters are reviewed by the on‐duty shift supervisor and incorporated into our report management system.

39


ENFORCEMENT STATS he Buffalo Grove Police Department places a strong emphasis on traf ic safety with the primary focus on the top causes of vehicle crashes. There are four main behaviors associated with injury related crashes—seat belt use, driving while impaired, speeding and distracted driving. The provided data re lects enforcement in those areas over the past three years.

Distracted Driving

Seat Belts

1200

520 1,017

1000 8 00

509

500

890

480

809

460 6 00 4 00

420

2 00

400

0

380 2016

2017

2016

2018

2017

2018

Impaired Driving

Speeding 3100 3000

437

432

440

140

2998

120

2876

2900

115

100

2800

87

87

2017

2018

80

2700 2582

2600

60

2500

40

2400

20 0

2300 2016

2017

2016

2018

40


T

SERVICE CALLS AND CRIME STATISTICS

hroughout the year, we track our Index Crimes (also referred to as “Part I Crimes”), which includes homicide, sexual assault, robbery, battery, aggravated assault, burglary, theft, and arson. During 2018, our Index Crimes increased by 12.24% (275) compared to 2017 (245), however our overall trend of Index Crimes has decreased 20% over the last ive years. Type

2017

2018

Burglary to Auto

218

216

Overall Traf ic Stops

9,852

9,684

Total Citations

12,094

11,828

Calls for Service

14,752

14,126

Part 1 Crimes

245

275

Part 1 Arrests

33

21

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